Written by Nick Milne
Story-telling podcasts and radio shows have taken off in a big way in recent years, with programs like The Truth, Serial and Welcome to Night Vale captivating millions. While most such podcasts and radio initiatives are strictly owner-created and –presented, some seek contributions from writers who would like to hear their words brought to life. Here are eight such venues that accept such submissions.
1. Escape Pod is one of the premiere sources online for high-quality audio sci-fi content, and they’re also open to submissions. Their stated mandate is simply “fun,” and they are open to works between 2000 and 6000 words that fall somewhere within the spectrum of “science fiction.” They pay $0.06 a word for original work and a non-negotiable rate of $100.00 for reprinted material. To learn more, read Escape Pod’s submission guidelines.
2. Glittership seeks LGBTQ-focused sci-fi and fantasy fiction from authors of all backgrounds. Episodes appear twice monthly, featuring stories of 100 to 6000 words. Authors can expect to be paid $0.01 per word. While the magazine’s remit is specifically LGBTQ speculative fiction, the editors stress that they “believe in queer as a large umbrella term and specifically include trans, genderqueer, and ace/aro identities” as well. When in doubt, they conclude, send it anyway. To learn more, read Glittership’s submission guidelines
3. Pseudopod is after tales of horror and the weird for their high-quality audio episodes. This award-winning program is a competitive market, but its rates reflect that: Like Escape Pod, to which it is a companion podcast, it pays $0.06 a word for original material or a $100.00 flat rate for reprinted material. Stories should run between 1500 and 6000 words, with 4500 being identified as the sweet spot. Publication with Pseudopod also helps qualify the author for affiliate or active membership with the Horror Writers Association. To learn more, read Pseudopod’s submission guidelines
4. The Drabblecast seeks stories of the weird, wonderful, and bizarre. They are another competitive and award-winning podcast, and they offer $0.03 per word between 500 and 4000 words. They also seek pro bono stories in the idiosyncratic forms of “drabbles”–exactly 100 words–and “twabbles”–exactly 100 characters. To learn more, read The Drabblecast’s submission guidelines
5. Sailaway Stories provides uplifting and family-friendly stories through an audio magazine, CD sales, and a new app. They seek specifically stories that “spark the imagination, bring laughter, and ignite hope.” There is no reading fee, and selected authors are paid a $25 honorarium for their work. To learn more, read Sailaway Stories’ submission guidelines.
6. Making Contact is not a podcast, but rather a large-scale radio project looking for writers to devise and produce segments for airing across various markets. They specifically seek work that “links grassroots issues and human realities to national or international trends,” “sheds light on social or economic inequities,” and “gives listeners a historical, political, or social context” for the above. Authors must be involved in the production process, but each segment of 6 to 8 minutes pays $450.00. To learn more, read Making Contact’s submission guidelines.
7. Podcastle bills itself as “the fantasy fiction podcast,” and seeks quality fantasy fiction up to 6000 words in length. They are also open to much longer reprints, but prospective authors should query first. Podcastle pays $0.06 per word, and a flat fee of $100.00 for reprints. They are currently closed to submissions, but worth bookmarking for teh future. To learn more, read Podcastle’s submission guidelines.
8. The Overcast seeks speculative fiction across a broad spectrum of genres. Submissions are open in January, April, July, and October. They pay $0.01 per word for stories between 1000 and 5000 words, but prefer stories in the 2000- to 3000-word range. They are also closed to submissions. To learn more, read The Overcast’s submission guidelines.